Spirited Comeback Prompts Venom Past Wildcatters, 46-42
June 9, 2014 - Lone Star Football League (LSFL)
Amarillo Venom News Release
AMARILLO, Texas - After enduring a nightmarish third quarter that saw the Venom surrender 22 unanswered points, the Amarillo Venom (5-4, LSFL) rallied past the West Texas Wildcatters (1-9, LSFL) 46-42 at the Cal Farley Coliseum on June 7. The victory continues the relentless march the Venom are embarking to the LSFL playoffs.
"It was time to start making plays now," Venom Head Coach Julian Reese said, sharing his thoughts on the comeback made by his team. "If we wanted to continue our season, we had to start going right now. And the guys stepped up and made some plays."
To begin the game, the Venom start off at their own 15 yard line. Starting quarterback Kevin Lauchland, playing in his second game of the 2014 campaign, would drive the home team down the field and eventually would see running back Shaka Harris rumble in for an early touchdown from six yards out. The ensuing PAT was no good, but was interesting due to the nature of the missing PAT via dropkick.
Wildcatters replay by returning the following kickoff to their own 22. Wide receiver Daryl Brister would rush in for the touchdown from two yards out. Due to lacking a kicker, the Wildcatters would attempt two point conversions all night, as the first attempt was converted by fullback Jacoby Thomas. This would enable the Wildcatters to take an 8-6 lead with less than nine minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The Venom would begin again at their own 20 yard line. While Lauchland would complete a pass to wide receiver/defensive back Craig Fulton Jr. into Wildcatter territory, the drive would fall short as Lauchland was intercepted by Wildcatter defensive back Desmond Baker at the West Texas one yard line.
Taking over quarterbacking duties from Kyle Jech, UTEP alum Tate Smith would take over, completing a huge pass to wide receiver Sedrick Johnson to the Venom 11 yard line. However, a false start by West Texas would push the Wildcatters back to Venom 16.
That was when fullback/linebacker Undre Hendrix forced the fumble on Smith, regaining Venom possession on the Amarillo 21 yard line. Lauchland would drive the Venom down the field, culminating in a critical fourth down at the Wildcatter one yard line. On the play, wide receiver DJ Beshears, returning to the roster after being hampered by an injury, plowed through the West Texas defensive line for the Venom touchdown. With the successful PAT, the Venom would retake the lead at 13-8 early in the second quarter.
The Wildcatters would attempt to shake off the fumble, starting off at their own 11 yard line. While Smith would connect with Johnson into Venom territory, the Wildcatters committed an illegal blocking penalty, pushing them back to other side of the field. However, the Wildcatters would drive back into Venom territory, leading to a Smith to Johnson touchdown pass. With the failed two point conversion, the Wildcatters lead the Venom, 14-13 with 11:05 left in the half.
The Venom would be given an advantage, receiving a short kickoff at the West Texas 20 yard line. Lauchland would put the earlier pick behind him, connecting to Beshears, advancing to the Wildcatter 16. In another complete to Beshears, the Kansas produc would fumble at the West Texas 5, and recovered by Baker once more at the Wildcatter one yard line. The Venom defensive unit would respond in a huge way as wide receiver/defensive back Donta Bright would bat a Smith pass away as a Wildcatter holding call in the endzone would give the Venom the safety. Regaining the lead and receiving a free kick, the Venom would lead 15-14 with 9:28 left in the second half.
Off of the free kick, the Venom would start again at their own five yard line. Lauchland would connect with Fulton Jr and wide receiver/defensive back Ron Evans Jr. to drive the Venom to their own 17. Aided by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty by West Texas, the Venom would cross over into Wildcatter territory. Lauchland would complete a pass to Beshears into the Coors Light Redzone while offsides penalty by West Texas placed Amarillo at the two yard line. After two failed rushes by Fulton Jr are stuffed by the Wildcatter defense, Lauchland would picked off the goaline by Baker, who returned the ball to the West Texas 20 yard line.
However, Smith would find himself sacked by defensive lineman Thomas Stubbs and defensive lineman Jackson, resulting in a loss of five yards. On the following play Smith would be intercepted by Jackson, who returned the ball to the Wildcatter six yard line.
"Defense is a whole," Jackson said. "[The Venom coaching staff] always tells us that one man's rush is another man's sack. Usually, we have to come together as a whole and somehow tonight it just panned out for me. I have to thank the rest of my defensive guys."
Soon after, Lauchland connected with Evans Jr. for the touchdown. With the successful PAT by kicker Jose Chavez, the Venom extend out to a 22-14 lead.
After committing a holding and a block and the back penalty, the Wildcatters would start off at their own eight yard line. Smith would complete a pass to wide receiver Hakim Gadiaga, pushing the Wildcatters to their own 17. To aid West Texas, the Venom would commit a roughing the passer penalty to help the Wildcatters travel into Venom territory. However, Jackson would pick off Smith once again, effecting ending the first half.
"[Jackson] did a great job," Reese said. "He was in position, where he was supposed to be and made plays. That was supposed to happen."
Returning from the locker room, the Wildcatters begin the second half at their own 16 yard line. Smith would find an open Johnson for an easy touchdown. Thomas would rumble in for the two point conversion to tie the game at 22-22.
This would begin a 22 point Wildcatter run in the third quarter, sparking bad memories from past Venom losses.
Taking advantage of an illegal procedure by the Wildcatters, the Venom start their first drive of the second half at their own 20 yard line. Lauchland would get blindsided by defensive lineman Lenard Williams, fumbling and seeing the fumble recovered by Williams on the same play. Taking over at the Venom 16, Smith and Johnson would again connect for the go ahead touchdown. While the two pointer was no good, the Wildcatters take a 28-24 lead with 10:32 left in the third quarter.
Venom would restart at their own 11 yard line. Lauchland would pass to Fulton Jr. into Wildcatter territory. However, as Evans Jr. catches a Lauchland pass, he would cough up the ball at the West Texas 15. Following the fumble, Smith and Johnson continue to tear up the Venom defense, culminating in a touchdown scamper by Thomas. The subsequent two pointer was good, as Smith and Johnson convert on another completed pass. With more than five minutes left in the quarter, the Wildcatters extend their lead, 36-22.
Seeking a reply, the Venom receive the kickoff and start at the Wildcatter 18. Lauchland would lead the Venom down the field, passing to Fulton Jr. before the veteran was tackled at the Wildcatter eight. Harris would push the Venom to the West Texas five yard line, leading to Lauchland find Evans Jr. in the endzone for the touchdown. With another successful kick by Chavez, the Venom trail 36-29.
The Wildcatters start off in Venom territory, but bounce between their side of the field and the Amarillo side of the field due to penalties and a muffed snap. Shaken up on the previous drive, Smith would be replaced by quarterback Chase Plourd. Plourd would initially struggle as Jackson would sack him for a loss of yardage.
Facing fourth down, a Wildcatter field goal attempt would be blocked by Jackson, and recovered by the Wildcatters in their own endzone. This would result in a second safety for the Amarillo defensive as Venom begin to chip away at the Wildcatter lead at 36-31.
"We just know - we talk a lot and communicate a lot," Jackson said, speaking of how the defense sparked the Venom rally. "There's moments in the game where guys would get tired, because we're human. We always have to dig deep and just finish the game. We always preach that - finish, finish, finish."
In the game, the former member of the Alabama Crimson Tide pulled in two interceptions, a blocked field goal and a quarterback sack.
The next Venom possession would see Fulton Jr. culminates a long drive and confusion at the endzone to grab the go ahead touchdown.
"It's all about improvising," Fulton Jr. said, summarizing on how he was able to cross the goal-line. "I saw a big guy in the way, I just ducked my head and try to take the contact. I noticed that I was at a stalemate, and the only thing I could think of was to stretch the ball out. And hopefully, I crossed the plane because [the Wildcatters defense] knocked it out. If [the referees] didn't call the touchdown, I wasn't going to the locker room - I was not coming to the sideline. I'm just glad that I was able to get that touchdown at that crucial time."
Momentum continued to play back into Amarillo's hands as Smith was picked off by Venom defensive back LeRoy Trahan at the Amarillo 22 and returned the interception to the West Texas two yard line. Hendrix would then rumble in for another touchdown score. The Venom would respond to the Wildcatter run by scoring 15 unanswered points and begin to extend lead, 46-36 with a minute remaining in the game.
However, the Wildcatters would fail to fade out as Smith would connect with Gadiaga for the final West Texas touchdown. Wildcatters get within four with 19.1 seconds left, but see their two point conversion fail due to strong play of the Venom defense.
In a last gasp by West Texas, an onside kick by Wildcatters goes out of bounds. The Venom would then finish the game off at the Wildcatter 14 and engage a few dive plays to end the game.
"We just stayed together as a team," Lauchland said, detailing how the Venom overcame the adversity faced in third quarter to complete the victory. "Nobody quit - it was a full team effort. On offense, when we weren't getting things going and we were turning over the ball, the defense would step up. It was just a great team effort. It was an awesome game - an awesome game to be a part of."
Despite yielding two interceptions and a fumble, Lauchland would go 22-31 and pass for 167 yards and two touchdowns. On the other hand, Wildcatters quarterback Tate Smith, a UTEP alum and a product of Odessa Permian, went 14-22 and recorded two touchdowns yet yielded four interceptions.
"[Lauchland] did a great job," Reese said. "He made plays and didn't get down on himself when stuff happened. He had a short memory and did a great job - we're proud of him."
While the Venom will have a test on their hands in going to Hidalgo on June 14 to battle the Rio Grande Valley Sol, the West Texas Wildcatters will return to Odessa to take on the New Mexico Stars on the same date.
The Amarillo Venom are a proud member of the Lone Star Football League. For more information and tickets, contact the Amarillo Venom office at (806) 350-7277.
Lone Star Football League Stories from June 9, 2014
- Spirited Comeback Prompts Venom Past Wildcatters, 46-42 - Amarillo Venom
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